Henry Baird Favill, AB, MD, LL.D., 1860-1916, a ... - University Library

386 HENRY BAIRD FAVILL
we have information on this subject we have none to offer.
Until we have judgment matured by serious investigation
and analysis our advice is worthless. If not to us, to whom
shall the pedagogic forces turn for cooperation?
At the moment, the organized profession is disposed to
congratulate itself on the fact that the teaching organization
has definitely entered into cooperative effort in the direction
of school hygiene. It is essentially a slow process, but the
promise of great achievement is directly before us. The
teaching organization will have similar reason for congratulation
when it shall have fully enlisted the medical
profession in cooperative study of psychology and pedagogy.
There is a further reason why physicians are primarily
related to this phase of child development. Their contact
with the subject is earlier. From birth to the time when
teachers have access to the subject, the field is held exclusively
by physicians and parents. Inevitably, parents must
receive guidance, if at all, from their medical advisers. The
fact that they are not habitually so guided to-day is not
the fault of the parents. It is due to the inadequacy of the
physicians. We have not made ourselves competent advisers
in this direction. Again the question arises, why need
this be a medical function ? Why are not parents sufficient
unto themselves in this responsibility?
In answer to this query and in elaboration of the general
statement that these phases of development are interdependent,
one may make a fundamental statement:
Health
is a function of character. If this be true, and the broader
and deeper the scrutiny the more incontrovertible it is
shown to be, it is beyond question that growth in physiology
and psychology must be concomitant.
Under civilized conditions, maintenance of health becomes
a question of self-restraint. It must be borne in mind
that natural law in this respect is in abeyance. Our habits
are essentially of our own creation, not exactly dictated by necessity.
Whereas sanitary science can control in a measure